Bench

ABSTRACT

A bench comprises a base with a seat section pivotally connected to the base. A locking assembly is secured to the base to selectively lock the seat section in a closed position relative to the base. A first compartment within the base has a top opening that is accessed when the seat section is in an open position, and a second compartment allows a fill material to put a weight on the bench.

BACKGROUND

People are often away from home when packages arrive from a delivery carrier. They may be at work, visiting friends, shopping, participating in sports, volunteering at school, or doing a numberless host of other activities. When items are left on a doorstep, even for a short period of time, they invite theft by random passersby.

When people are away from home for a long time, for example, taking a vacation or working remotely for an extended period of time, packages left on a doorstep serve as an indication to others that the people are not home, which can incite theft not only of the packages, but of the home itself.

With theft and home theft preventable by not leaving packages out in the open, improvements to package deliveries are thus needed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example bench.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example bench.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of an example bench.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of an example bench.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cutaway view of an example bench.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example lock for an example bench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following relates to a locked bench for depositing packages.

An example bench comprises a base with a top lid or seat section pivotally connected to the base. A locking assembly is secured to the base to selectively lock the seat section in a closed position relative to the base. A first compartment within the base has a top opening that is accessed when the seat section is in an open position, and a second compartment allows a fill material to put a weight on the bench.

Turning to FIG. 1, a bench 100 is shown according to principles discussed herein. The bench 100 is defined by a base defined by a back wall 103 (see FIG. 4), two sidewalls 105 and 123, a front wall 124, a bottom wall, and a pivotally connected top lid 104 which also serves as a seat section to be sat on by at least one user. The walls extend vertically upward from a ground surface and the seat section includes a position that extends relatively horizontal and parallel with a ground surface. The back wall 103 extends vertically upward past the top lid 104 so as to provide a back rest for at least one user when sitting down on the bench 100. The back wall 103 shown includes slats which are spaced apart from each other, however, various configurations, including a solid back wall, a single slat, etc. are anticipated.

The bench 100 shown further includes armrests 120 and 121, which are vertical members that extend from sidewalls 105 and 123. The armrests 120 and 121 shown include openings defined by horizontal and vertical elongate members forming the armrests 120 and 121. Alternatively, solid armrests or no armrests may be present. Further variations of armrests are anticipated as well.

By all outward appearances, the bench 100 is constructed to appear as a normal bench that camouflages its locking storage ability for delivered parcels. A locking element 114 is shown located on the front wall 124 to lock the top lid 104 in a locked state that includes the top lid 104 covering a top portion of the base 102. The top lid 104 is pivotally connected to the back wall 103 by means known in the art (e.g. at least one hinge, joint, spring, etc.) that allows the top lid 104 to have at least an open position with the top lid 104 angled relative to the base 102 and a closed position with the top lid 104 positioned horizontal or parallel with a top of the base 102 and ground surface so as to provide a stable seating position for a user. A lock 109 is used to maintain the top lid 104 in the horizontal position.

A first compartment 106 in the base 102 is shown in FIG. 2. The first compartment 106 includes a cavity to allow at least one delivered package to be removably inserted. The cavity as shown is defined by sidewalls 105 and 123, back wall 103, front wall 124, and bottom wall 126. Cavities may have additional walls, other walls, and hidden walls. Hidden compartments within the cavity are anticipated. For example, small compartments may be defined for jewelry items to be hidden. Sliding walls may add further hidden compartments.

Attached to an end of the back wall 126 is the pivotally connected top lid 104. A free end of the top lid 104 rests on an end of the front wall 124 when the top lid 104 is horizontally positioned in the closed positioned. The open position includes the top lid 104 to be vertically upright or angled relative to the base 102 with access to the first compartment 106 available.

Turning to FIG. 3, a front view of the bench 100 is shown. The lock 114 is shown at the center near or at a top of the front wall 124 to lock to a free end of the top lid 104. The lock 114 may be located anywhere that it can functionally lock the top lid 104 to the rest of the base 102. The lock may be a manual entry code, such that an entry of at least one or more numbers, letters, or symbols are entered, such as on a touch screen, push button entry, dial, mechanical structure, electronic utility, or other type of entry. Biosensors or ID recognition techniques are also anticipated. The lock may include a combination type of code, where more than one number, letter, symbol, etc. is required in an orderly fashion.

Although a manual entry is considered advantageous because the code can be given to the delivery person without requiring the added measure of hiding a key and telling the delivery person where to find the key or giving the key to the delivery person ahead of time, a key entry is also anticipated.

Turning to FIG. 4, an opening 110 is shown on the back wall 103 of the base 102. The opening provides a port of entry for materials to be placed that will put weight on the bench. Turning to FIG. 5, a cutout view of the base 102 shows the second compartment 108 to which the opening 110 communicates fill material 108, such as sand, granular materials, soil, grain, corn, plastic pellets, powders, pills, etc., that weigh the bench down. The added weight makes it difficult for would-be thieves to know whether or not a package is inside the bench. It further makes the bench more difficult to lift and shake to find out if a package is inside the bench. Furthermore, it makes it difficult to transport the bench without emptying the second compartment 108 first.

The second compartment 108 is located at or near the base 102 and under the first compartment 106 and spans the bottom surface of the base 102. Alternatively, the second compartment 108 may span less than half the base 102. The compartment may have a narrow height, such as less than ¼, ⅛, or 1/16 of the height of the base from bottom to top lid (in the closed position).

The opening may have a closure element 114 that removably closes the opening and prevents fill material from leaking out. The closure element may lay flush with the opening or otherwise blend in with the base 102 so as to be difficult to find. The closure element may seal with a screw fit, friction fit, snap fit, slide, or any other type of fit that is common to sealing openings.

Turning to FIG. 6, an example lock 123 is shown with manual entry buttons. A keyed entry is also shown. The manual entry may allow for the user to set the combination and the order of combination of the entry buttons. Alternatively, the combination may be pre-set. Although the example lock 123 is shown with both manual entry buttons and a keyed entry, simply having manual entry buttons alone or having a keyed entry alone is anticipated.

While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bench, comprising: a base; a seat section pivotally connected to the base; a locking assembly secured to the base to selectively lock the seat section in a closed position relative to the base; a first compartment within the base that has a top opening that is accessed when the seat section is in an open position; and a second compartment to allow a fill material to put a weight on the bench.
 2. The bench of claim 1, wherein at least the first compartment or second compartment is located at or below a height of the base.
 3. The bench of claim 1, wherein the at least the first compartment or second compartment is defined by a cavity that spans at least a majority of a length of the base.
 4. The bench of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly includes a manual entry code.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly includes a combination code.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening is located on an anterior side of the bench.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a closure element that removably closes the opening.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an arm rest on either end of the base.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a back rest that extends vertically upward from a back end of the base.
 10. The device of claim 1, the open position comprising the seat section being pivotally angled to allow packages to be inserted within the first compartment.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein first compartment comprises an opening that dimensioned for packages to be inserted.
 12. The device of claim 1, the closed position comprising the seat section be level with the base to provide a horizontal seat relative to a ground surface. 